On Wednesday, April 30, the 69th Montana legislative session adjourned sine die. This means the regular session is completed for the year.
The following sportsmen-related bills have already been signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte.
HB 96 creates a trapper apprentice program.
HB 98 revises laws related to possession and validation of licenses, permits, or tags.
HB 106 revises laws related to shooting preserve requirements.
HB 146 revises hunting license fees to include cranes and swans.
HB 175 requires fish, wildlife, and parks to publish a report detailing data on hunting districts.
HB 219 generally revises hunting laws related to unlawful contests or prizes.
HB 244 revises hunting licenses for deployed armed service members.
HB 264 generally revises wildlife location data subject to public information requests.
HB 283 revises laws for hunting licenses lotteries.
The following bills have been sent to the governor for his consideration
HB 145 revises fee for nonresident base hunting license.
HB 202 generally revises laws related to the unlawful use of aircraft for hunting.
HB 259 revises fish and wildlife commission techniques for gray wolf management.
HB 328 allows hunters over 75 years to use general elk license for cow elk.
HB 329 makes the Montana ammunition act permanent.
HB 354 revises penalties for criminal trespass while fishing, trapping, hunting, or collecting antlers/sheds/horns
HB 372 revises license fees used for funding of upland game bird enhancement program.
HB 450 generally revises bird dog training licensing laws.
HB 568 provides for the Montana Hunters First Act.
HB 762 requires the department of fish, wildlife, and parks to publish a report on river usage.
HB 763 generally revises laws related to the block management program.
HB 801 provide for the Montana Firearms Liability Clarification Act.
HB 817 generally revises laws related to hunting licenses for terminally ill youth.
HB 897 generally revises laws related to shed hunting on wildlife management areas.
SB 106 revises laws related to the use of manned and unmanned aircraft while hunting.
SB 148 allows landowners to designate licenses to people with disabilities.
SB 235 revises landowner preference qualifications for elk to require finalized land ownership of 640 acres or more of contiguous land.
SB 514 generally revises laws related to upland game bird seasons.
The below bills passed their house of origin and failed in the opposite house
HB 57 would have designated quail as an upland game bird. HB 57 passed the House and failed on second reading in the Senate.
HB 71 would have revised special license requirements allowing second lion license and removing Tendoy sheep reporting. HB 71 passed the House and was tabled in Senate committee.
HB 176 requires an unlimited wolf hunting quota when the population is at or above 450 wolves. HB 176 passed 55 to 44 and failed in the Senate by a vote of 23 to 27.
HB 258 requiring the extension of wolf hunting season. HB 258 passed the House by a vote of 57 to 43 and passed the Senate by a vote of 31 to 19 with amendments. The House failed to concur with the Senate amendments.
HB 560 would have established the Montana hunters and anglers’ community fund. HB 560 passed the House and was tabled in Senate committee.
SB 96 establishes the working animal protection act. SB 96 passed the Senate and was tabled in House committee.
SB 270 revises laws related to antlerless elk licenses. SB 270 passed the Senate and was tabled in House committee.
Even though the 2025 legislative session is over, the Sportsmen’s Alliance will continue to monitor activities in Big Sky Country. You never know when issues that sportsmen need to be aware of may arise.
Please share this message with your family and friends as sportsmen. Urge them to join you and the Sportsmen’s Alliance in standing up to fight, protect, and defend against the relentless attacks from animal extremists. The extremists work tirelessly to crater our rights, values and heritage and we must work harder to ensure they are secure today, tomorrow, and for the future.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
